As far as I am aware the oldest instrument I own and have played is my Estey folding pump organ from WWII. It sounds hauntingly beautiful, but I need to find the time to really clean all of the reeds properly. I was just amazed to find it at a thrift store and it actually was functional. Really expected the bellows to be damaged, but no, the organ pumped air right through no problem. A few dead notes from dirty reeds as mentioned, I've cleaned up the few problem ones but I still want to do the rest of them at some point, as well as take the entire keyboard apart and clean it as well. At the moment though I am not ready to commit the time to it.
Oldest "guitar'.. I had the privilege of "playing" a very old guitar. Actually, probably one of the most expensive and rare guitars in the world. I played the Rawlins Stradivari guitar at the National Music Museum in Vermilion, South Dakota. It was built around 1700 and is one of five such guitars, made by Antonio Stradivari. First off, yes this is a true statement, but has a little context behind it. I am lucky enough to live close the the NMM in Vermilion and was able to sweet talk my way into being a volunteer. I had an odd work schedule at the time, which allowed me to be at the museum, most mornings and afternoons during the week. Plus, my wife and I would go on Saturdays and help out. There is a long story on how i was able to play the guitar, that I wont get into here. AND by playing I plucked around on the old gut strings, very very gently. Like the Strad, your guitar has a very similar fret lay out. The curator and I were discussing that as we were 'playing' and inspecting the beauty. They don't make much sense, then again, who am I to question the reasoning of Stradivarius's fret placement?? His were a bit more extreme in spacing... But it is playable. Its pretty rare, but they do hold concerts of people playing it. OK, this got away from me, sorry its a book of a comment. Anyway, love your stuff, never miss a week. I found you from a suggestion from Ted Woodford, who I also follow evey week. Thank you for doing what you do!
Incredible! I can't wait to visit the NMM someday, the problem is its Vermillion which is out of the way from just about anywhere. I've heard Arian is a wonderful person and would love to pick her brain about the Vivi-Tones and Orville Gibson instruments in the collection
Arian is the best! Quite the player herself. We spent a lot of time together, discussing different things. She is a sweetheart! We first met, when I donated my grandfathers Fender. She was so good with my Mother and Aunt when they had questions on the process. Nothing but kind words and good memories of her. Her (then) fiancé was great as well. He was a giant in the vintage market and I purchased a Kala from him, for my daughter. Great guy. Vermilion is out of the way, but the National Music Museum is worthy of a trip on its own, if you love that sort of thing. Their collection is extensive and one of the best in the world! They had instruments in storage, that would of been the prize piece in many institutions. Their research department is second to none! The documents they have are jaw dropping. My family (myself, wife and 3 daughters) spent a weekend, in the basement, pouring over all the paperwork from the Ludwig company. Including every tax return, loan, purchase, catalogs, buisness records, personal notes and correspondence from old Bill and Theo Ludwig. Sounds like a boring time, but it was dripping with history and inner workings of such a giant. They have been undergoing a huge renovation and last time I was there, they had just started reinstalling exhibits. I should run up there and see how they are progressing.
cool AF instrument, to think it was built 30 miles from where i was born and now watching you working on it across the ocean many miles away. great content your bringing here bud
@@Notaluthier if you ever find yourself unfortunate to be over on this awful island i could highly recommend a visit to york and yorkshire as a county, so much historical stuff to see and so many great musical things came from there old and new.
Yes! The wealth of old instruments (and everything else) in the “old world” is certainly appealing! It was on Blake street by the way! A VERY short street in York. It’s possible the buildings are the same as were there back then!?
@@Notaluthier yeah i just looked it up on street view its now a clothing shop called lakeland and still retains all the original mouldings/pillars on the frontage, i also googled it and found quite interesting reads when reading through some of the local press articles.
also how long will we have to wait before you do a upload featuring the red squier showmaster , just a tease having that in the background all the time.
I think it's cool to re-stamp in this case. You're not lying about anything. I think it would also be interesting to see if it's possible to dig up some period pieces to see how the instrument was utilized in its original timeframe.
For sure…if I hadn’t been in such a rush to feed the algorithm, I might’ve learned some baroque pieces. There are a few examples on TH-cam already, but not many
I played a violin fabricated in 1620. The belly underneath the bridge is slightly sunken in. It has a blond varnish, made in Italy. I do not recall the maker. It is not loud and has a nice, clean tone. My old friend Terry, (the owner of the violin shop), did house calls for folks who could not leave their home. Sometimes, she was able to make the repair from her small toolbox. She had to bring this one in for repair. She offered me the privilege of actually playing it, and played it I did. I was amazed at how forgiving it was on the neck. I could take one note and move it over 1/8th”, to 3/16” either way, and the sound would not change. The lady who owned it eventually crossed to the other side, and left that little violin to the safe keeping with the Cleveland Orchestra. They do not play it with the full ensemble. They do play it in a small Baroque ensemble. At that time, it was valued at $87,000. I’m sure it has upped some in value. That was in 1991. It was a nice violin, and still is. I have been subscribed for a good while now……… Faron. 🎻
Im sitting here about ready to practice guitar after your video is finished, and i notice you have a very underrated Boss ME-50 on the floor there.... Then my gaze falls upon MY floor, directly at my Boss ME-50. It was serendipitous, to say the least. I appreciate a man of culture. Thumbs up.
You did a great job playing, and tuning stability who knows the last time it was tuned up that wood needs time to adjust Ilike how you respect the instruments you work on amd you want to do what you think is right for them great job and thanks for showing us your work ❤
Crazy good work there, man. That was a labour of love, start to finish. Of course it's gonna sound that good. Plus, the filmmaking was through the roof on this one. By the way, still waiting on that album to drop :) Great stuff man! All the best in this new year!
It's a very cool instrument and a nice find! I love digging into the history of past instrument makers and players. Given that this needed a pretty massive overhaul, I think it would be good for future players and luthiers who may come across this to be able to identify it more easily if you can find what Haxby's original mark looked like and try to replicate it. It's not like you're removing the original patina on an otherwise flawless instrument. As for the oldest instrument I've played, that would be a ukulele from the 1940s.
I don't know, i Like that ambered flamey maple, er Sycamore. It looks like the natural color of the wood and not a stain. For some reason it brings to mind Peter Green's old Les Paul, and Sounds, Magnifico! 🔥🌌
I think it would be ok to stamp the mark. A complete restore refinish possible new fret board? Then maybe thin out the top add/check bracing. Enjoyed the music video at the end. The oldest was a 1959 Les Paul. You live in an amazing place.
Yes! If I decide to pull the neck off, I’ll go full Monty on the top and bracing and decorations…and reveneer/fret the fretboard for better intonation.
Nice! I think I might’ve have seen at least the name of the street it was on at some point and it was a VERY short one in York, and the buildings looked quite old, it’s possible the building is still there!
@@Notaluthier Looks like it was 17-21 Blake Street, you can see it on Google Maps still :) Not sure if it's still the same building, it's a little unclear from the description, but I think it is! her.york.gov.uk/Monument/MYO1843
First of all I love your dog. Second of all I find you hilarious at times. Thirdly IMHO you should deepen the stamp of the makers Mark and strip off all the poly and French polish it with shellac
You should do a full restore on the instrument to get it to a playable condition because if you don't, it's just an art piece. Refinish, refret, restamp
I think I have to disagree. The playability was addressed and its now a useable instrument. The aesthetic work could certainly be redone, and I will at some point, gotta get that video out though! but it wont make it less of an art/museum piece, but rather more of one.
You're the best mate. You make consistently excellent content that is fun, interesting, and feels good for the soul. I think if you want to restamp it you absolutely should, it does rather seem that Buggy is completely ambivalent. The nature section was great, including the butterfly, which was shot on a high-speed camera? Also, you can't put that animation in there and not even mention it! What was that?
Oh I definitely should have tagged that animation. It is the original animation to the song I was playing “the log driver’s waltz” check it out on TH-cam: th-cam.com/video/upsZZ2s3xv8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=-QFg5XbuoW6z7GP1
You could complete the stamp with a different colour and just keep the area immediately around it in the current finish, add a fine wooden circle around it and refinish the rest.
Bro thanks so much for showing how to fix the sitar like buzz. I got an acoustic guitar for Christmas every time I played a d chord I wanted to hit my head against the wall.
Those frets look right to me.18th-century instruments would not have used equally tempered tuning. People only played in the few keys that sounded good.
I think it’s perfectly acceptable to re-stamp the maker’s name and to refinish it to something more in keeping with how it originally would have been. It’s a charming instrument and the bridge and tail piece are a superb addition!
It depends on the type of restoration. For a fully restored instrument sure. But he tends to do "sympathetic restorations" where you aren't erasing the history of the instrument. That's probably why he is unsure about refinishing it in a more traditional manner.
oldest i've played is a 2015 dean (that i know of) my first ever guitar i found at goodwill might've been older (pissed i got rid of it, should've kept it)
Great job, bringing it back to life! I also think, the fret spacing has to do with temperament. Since I don't like the paint job, and the Instrument has already been messed with, I'd go with refinishing! The oldest instrument I played was a 1782 Walter pianoforte in the musical instrument museum in Vienna! That was truly humbling!
I was fortunate enough to be able to play a 280-300 yo Testore cello when I was looking for mine. I was never going to buy it, and they knew that, but they were nice enough to let me play it.
Great video thank you. I think it turned out great. Bridge looked good and matched the feel of the instrument well. I wouldnt feel bad about refinishing but would probably mark it internally or something for posterity. Oldest instrument I ever played was a flute excavated from Chaco canyon ca 900-1100ad. It was a couple toots but im still claiming it. I kinda have the hots for that The Russell banjo. Hit me up if its for sale .
Not sure just how old, but a dulcimer from the mid 1800's. It was originally one of my great great grandparents dulcimer, and my cousin has it and still plays it at church every week. According to family lore, it was a wedding gift to them about 10 years before the start of the Civil War. It was made by a local maker, this was in the Arkansas Ozarks.
Greylocke, that is truly phenomenal. Is there a chance you can film some of this performance for showing on TH-cam? I bet there would be a lot of interest, especially with the history from "down in old dark Arkansas". (That last is a quote from the song "Caledonia Mission" by The Band...)
Even just a top coat of shellac might improve the texture. That way you also could leave the logo as is. If it doesn't look right then you could do a full refinish and redo the stamp. I always try to keep things authentic, but this is definitely a grey area. The oldest guitar i played was from the 1800s. Very small and narrow. Likely pearwood back and sides and it had a sugary sort of smell. Very bowed neck. I sold it a few years ago. Probably smart to have gotten away from the dc area especially these days. I'm in maryland unfortunately.
when I was at school on the 70s, our music tutor (RIP Vinny Thorpe) took us to an old trad music recital and I had a strum on a similar instrument, I'd love to play that
@Notaluthier i have no clue. Its had some modification to it so it took me a while to realize its a buckbee. Someone shaved the headstock done and looking at the tuners in it it happened around the 50s. Thanks to banjo hangout for helping me figure what it was
Fascinating to find out about an instrument I knew nothing about. Oldest instrument I've ever played (and owned) was an English made banjo from the 1920s. It wasn't particularly great to play but in very good, all original condition so I traded it for a modern banjo.
Oldest thing I've played is my reed organ from 1906. Still works amazingly well and is way easier to work on than I'd have thought for something with ~120 tiny 120 year old brass reeds
Great job! Fantastic look! Never expected it to be so old! If You want to know, how it could sound with a real master playing, then listen to Pedro Chamorro!
Nice one. Oldest instrument, Fender jazz bass that I bought in 1980-81 it was probably a '69 ish. I can remember it being the nicest playing bass I ever played. I swapped it for a Shergold double neck. That guitar I traded in for a tape loop that the band needed. We all make mistakes 🙄
I wonder if the fretboard (11:25) of the English guitar is in a historical temperament? The major third and sixth look flat, similar to just intonation (though maybe a bit too flat).
Absolutely could be! I’ll need to investigate further. Given that I didn’t even know the layout of the courses until I was halfway through the project, leaves me feeling like there’s a lot more to learn!
That was my first thought too --- seems to me that it could easily be a Werckmeister temperament or some such. If my memory serves, equal temperament was around but wasn't yet de rigueur at the time of the instrument's construction.
You can get a snake camera for under $30 USD that attaches to your phone charging port and can go inside the guitar sound holes and check out damage, etc.
Oldest I can saw for sure was the 59-64 eko m100. Only guessing the years because it came with a song book from 59 and 64, but the sticker inside had no date stamp unlike later ones I’d seen. It had the cardboard faux gator skin case and a kent brand strap. Which I should have kept since I have a 67 kent 820 thinline. The eko was actually thrown out in heavy garbage collection. If it had the pearloid pickguard it would have been worth at least 1k.. traded it for an epiphone les paul that plays like butter and $100 cash.
It was an awesome day! And an honest seller, of the kind that’s harder to come by these days, who sticks to a deal even when their phone is ringing off the hook with other buyers.
The frets weren't unintentionally uneven! This instrument was never intended to be played in just any key! Even temperament was only one of many standards in the 1700s. Notice that the musical third and sixth are several cents flat to be in tune harmonically instead of the evenly spaced diatonic intervals, which means the fourth and ninth (from the nut) frets are supposed to be a certain amount closer to the nut than they would be for even temperament, which is exactly the case here!!
1:40 - Those inlays appear to be either ivory or bone. Same goes for the tuner buttons. I don't believe plastic was invented yet judging by the age of the banjo. Maybe there was bakelite during that time.
It is an 1890s banjo so “plastic” would certainly be surprising. Perhaps mastic? (Though it tends to shrink and crack over time) Or some other cast material They don’t look like natural material (ie bone/ivory)
@@Notaluthier You are probably right. I found out that mastic was indeed used as inlay material. Thanks! I did not know that interesting fact! There wasn't any info on when mastic was first used by luthiers. I had a small collection of Victorian era zithers, a 6 string lute, and a ukulele banjo. I didn't restring or play any of them, I hung them on the wall as art.
As you don't even know if the stamp is original or genuine I think it's quite acceptable for you as the owner to do whatever you like. Thin the top and refret the neck, refinish. Reference steel strings . The harpsichord preceded the English guitar and had itself metal strings, usually made of iron or brass depending upon the preferred tone. As your manufacturer made harpsichords and the like he would be well aware of and familiar with metal strings. Although metal strings were available I can find no references to steel strings until the developement of the pianoforte.
I would easily bet $1000 the BARELY LEGIBLE maker stamps are original. I also don’t subscribe to the philosophy of an “owner” doing whatever they like with an instrument…most people don’t have sense enough to take good care of instruments, especially historic ones. Considering most of my job is fixing guitars that ignorant people fucked up…yeah…no…owners shouldn’t get a pass to do whatever they want if they are incompetent. They will die, and the instrument will live on.
@@Notaluthier You could bet your very last dollar but the truth is you have no documented evidence. I'm not doubting your judgement just stating a fact. Truth is that an owner can actually do what the hell he likes with an instrument he owns. Famous guitarists that personalised their instruments made them unique and very valuable. If you or I did it it wouldn't matter. You actually did modify this guitar using your own judgement as there are no actual points of reference. Finally , I commented because you asked us to do just that. If you don't like comments , don't ask for them.
Ooh spicy! I didn’t mean to come off as a dick. I just ALWAYS hear people say “it’s yours do what you want” but most people are too incompetent and misguided to do what they want. And so an awful lot of historical furniture, instruments and what have you, are irrevocably ruined. Much like the previous owner of this instrument, with the best of intentions, put a new top on it and refinished it…it was his…and he didn’t do terrible work, but now we will never know what it had been. As for my mods, the only parts I modified were removable and/or already non-original. I appreciate the discourse. Cheers
I was really crossing my fingers hoping for a refinish- still I think that's some fantastic work you did on that pretty little guitar. I understand the thought of trying to restamp the maker's name ie, to preserve the pedigree rather than trying to pull one over on anyone. I feel like it would be less appropriate since so much of the craftsmanship and even design elements now are credited to a different craftsman, its a tricky concept Im not really sure what the right thing would be.
Is there a new kitten in the I'mNotALuthier household? What are Buggy's thought on sharing space with juvenile of the feline persuasion? The oldest guitar I own is a 1960 Harmony H59. I really enjoy your long-form videos, I will watch it again, and recommend it to total strangers that we may become friends.
The bridge came out beautiful. I like the orange finish. No idea what the oldest instrument is I've played, probably because I didn't know how old they were when I played them.
Oldest 2 I have are 1800s (Still need to be made to play again ) a "HOPF" german Violin And a 1860s Civil War era Banjo. My 1st Guitar Which I still own and Play is a 1930s FOX Theater Detroit Hawaiian Guitar academy Acoustic. Which I rescued From the trash in the 1970s and made a new x braced top for
That router work was so scary ….. It obvious you have a lot of experience using a router ( even if it’s the wrong way ) I’m really good with an angle grinder and used it in all kinds of sketchy ways till I got bit by it pretty bad . A router is a fickle mistress be careful my friend
I also got bit but an angle grinder! Took 2 fingers but luckily they were able to re attach em. I thought I'd never be able to play guitar again but it's been 8 years and I'm still rockin'
I remembered, on watching this vid, seeing a Minstrel who turned up at an open stage night I played at who went by the name Dante Ferrara. He played and sang with both a Hurdy Gurdy and a Cittern and was very entertaining. Just checked and he has some vids on YT under that name you may like to check out. It must have been longer ago than I remember as he looks quite a bit older than he was. I will admit to finding it hard to believe the age of the instrument; it looks too clean, even having been re finished.
Yes, in the initial craigslist pictures this is part of the reason I didn’t jump on everything right off the bat was how “new” this and the Bandurria looked. Little did I know!
Protect original area with 3M(?) transparency that you may see & safely lift off & replace in need of verifications. But, add your designed + inclusive with copy of 'Original' ...( oval or rectangular brass/silver ) ...Then inset (( THAT )) at a prefered & safe backside spot of body' outside...Plus: include your' refurbish date, maybe, also. It may even serve as a backside extra strengthening & locking of the existing 2 veneers ...Maybe? LOVE!
High quality pictures taken under various lighting conditions may add authority to the maker's mark. If you have a university nearby with any similar programs, they might be able to assist with that. Once you have provinence you can go ahead with restoring the finish without worrying about it. An alternative is to restore everything except those marks. I'm unsure about how you'd deal with the top. A part of me says it should be kept as is, though maybe removed and made thinner. I have some old stuff but I don't think I have anything that I can absolutely prove is older than that. So, good score! I have a guitar made in Portugal that's very old but I have no way to say when it was made with any certainty. I'd have to find one of those people that does such things. Dendrologist might be the name of 'em?
It’s seems exceedingly unlikely that someone would forge such a thing! But I shall see if the museum/university has any resources nonetheless. Having high quality images of the makers marks on file would be a good idea. Even better would be to find another example of a Haxby Guittar for comparison! Then I can make a more faithful soundboard if necessary.
@@Notaluthier Yeah, there's not a huge market for that guitar. I'm looking forward to see how you decide to go forward. A part of me would say that the top is now a part of its history. Maybe you'll find more information when you open it up?
If there is an unmolested value on the instrument, it is already gone. Couldn’t hurt to return it to closer to how it was born. Great sound!
As far as I am aware the oldest instrument I own and have played is my Estey folding pump organ from WWII. It sounds hauntingly beautiful, but I need to find the time to really clean all of the reeds properly. I was just amazed to find it at a thrift store and it actually was functional. Really expected the bellows to be damaged, but no, the organ pumped air right through no problem. A few dead notes from dirty reeds as mentioned, I've cleaned up the few problem ones but I still want to do the rest of them at some point, as well as take the entire keyboard apart and clean it as well. At the moment though I am not ready to commit the time to it.
I have a folding pump organ that was used graveside for funerals ☠️
Oldest "guitar'..
I had the privilege of "playing" a very old guitar. Actually, probably one of the most expensive and rare guitars in the world. I played the Rawlins Stradivari guitar at the National Music Museum in Vermilion, South Dakota. It was built around 1700 and is one of five such guitars, made by Antonio Stradivari.
First off, yes this is a true statement, but has a little context behind it. I am lucky enough to live close the the NMM in Vermilion and was able to sweet talk my way into being a volunteer. I had an odd work schedule at the time, which allowed me to be at the museum, most mornings and afternoons during the week. Plus, my wife and I would go on Saturdays and help out. There is a long story on how i was able to play the guitar, that I wont get into here. AND by playing I plucked around on the old gut strings, very very gently.
Like the Strad, your guitar has a very similar fret lay out. The curator and I were discussing that as we were 'playing' and inspecting the beauty. They don't make much sense, then again, who am I to question the reasoning of Stradivarius's fret placement?? His were a bit more extreme in spacing... But it is playable. Its pretty rare, but they do hold concerts of people playing it. OK, this got away from me, sorry its a book of a comment.
Anyway, love your stuff, never miss a week. I found you from a suggestion from Ted Woodford, who I also follow evey week. Thank you for doing what you do!
Wow!!!! What a privilege! That’s so awesome! It’d be so cool to even hold that guitar, let alone play a few notes!
Incredible! I can't wait to visit the NMM someday, the problem is its Vermillion which is out of the way from just about anywhere. I've heard Arian is a wonderful person and would love to pick her brain about the Vivi-Tones and Orville Gibson instruments in the collection
Arian is the best! Quite the player herself. We spent a lot of time together, discussing different things. She is a sweetheart! We first met, when I donated my grandfathers Fender. She was so good with my Mother and Aunt when they had questions on the process. Nothing but kind words and good memories of her. Her (then) fiancé was great as well. He was a giant in the vintage market and I purchased a Kala from him, for my daughter. Great guy.
Vermilion is out of the way, but the National Music Museum is worthy of a trip on its own, if you love that sort of thing. Their collection is extensive and one of the best in the world! They had instruments in storage, that would of been the prize piece in many institutions. Their research department is second to none! The documents they have are jaw dropping. My family (myself, wife and 3 daughters) spent a weekend, in the basement, pouring over all the paperwork from the Ludwig company. Including every tax return, loan, purchase, catalogs, buisness records, personal notes and correspondence from old Bill and Theo Ludwig. Sounds like a boring time, but it was dripping with history and inner workings of such a giant.
They have been undergoing a huge renovation and last time I was there, they had just started reinstalling exhibits. I should run up there and see how they are progressing.
I love how you aggressively chased the history of this instrument.
Thomas Haxby was “a singing man” is sooooooo an 18th century way to describe a singer. 🎻🎹🎼
And “under the sign of the organ” is such a way to get illiterate people to know where the music shoppe is!
🌸🩷🌸
..that soundhole star design is completely awesome, ..❄️🌌
cool AF instrument, to think it was built 30 miles from where i was born and now watching you working on it across the ocean many miles away. great content your bringing here bud
Rad! Made under the sign of the Organ! I have ish the address in York was listed somewhere, I’d love to google map-that
@@Notaluthier if you ever find yourself unfortunate to be over on this awful island i could highly recommend a visit to york and yorkshire as a county, so much historical stuff to see and so many great musical things came from there old and new.
Yes! The wealth of old instruments (and everything else) in the “old world” is certainly appealing!
It was on Blake street by the way! A VERY short street in York. It’s possible the buildings are the same as were there back then!?
@@Notaluthier yeah i just looked it up on street view its now a clothing shop called lakeland and still retains all the original mouldings/pillars on the frontage, i also googled it and found quite interesting reads when reading through some of the local press articles.
also how long will we have to wait before you do a upload featuring the red squier showmaster , just a tease having that in the background all the time.
I think it's cool to re-stamp in this case. You're not lying about anything. I think it would also be interesting to see if it's possible to dig up some period pieces to see how the instrument was utilized in its original timeframe.
For sure…if I hadn’t been in such a rush to feed the algorithm, I might’ve learned some baroque pieces. There are a few examples on TH-cam already, but not many
I played a violin fabricated in 1620. The belly underneath the bridge is slightly sunken in. It has a blond varnish, made in Italy. I do not recall the maker. It is not loud and has a nice, clean tone. My old friend Terry, (the owner of the violin shop), did house calls for folks who could not leave their home. Sometimes, she was able to make the repair from her small toolbox. She had to bring this one in for repair. She offered me the privilege of actually playing it, and played it I did. I was amazed at how forgiving it was on the neck. I could take one note and move it over 1/8th”, to 3/16” either way, and the sound would not change. The lady who owned it eventually crossed to the other side, and left that little violin to the safe keeping with the Cleveland Orchestra. They do not play it with the full ensemble. They do play it in a small Baroque ensemble. At that time, it was valued at $87,000. I’m sure it has upped some in value. That was in 1991. It was a nice violin, and still is. I have been subscribed for a good while now……… Faron. 🎻
Amazing! Too bad it isn’t played!
It is still played. The reason why they do not play it with the full ensemble, is because it is not very loud. It does fine with the smaller group.
Ahhh, lovely
Im sitting here about ready to practice guitar after your video is finished, and i notice you have a very underrated Boss ME-50 on the floor there....
Then my gaze falls upon MY floor, directly at my Boss ME-50.
It was serendipitous, to say the least.
I appreciate a man of culture.
Thumbs up.
Fuck yeah I love the ME-50! Everyone makes fun of me for it…their loss! 😝
You did a great job playing, and tuning stability who knows the last time it was tuned up that wood needs time to adjust
Ilike how you respect the instruments you work on amd you want to do what you think is right for them great job and thanks for showing us your work ❤
Thanks!
Crazy good work there, man. That was a labour of love, start to finish. Of course it's gonna sound that good. Plus, the filmmaking was through the roof on this one. By the way, still waiting on that album to drop :) Great stuff man! All the best in this new year!
It's a very cool instrument and a nice find! I love digging into the history of past instrument makers and players. Given that this needed a pretty massive overhaul, I think it would be good for future players and luthiers who may come across this to be able to identify it more easily if you can find what Haxby's original mark looked like and try to replicate it. It's not like you're removing the original patina on an otherwise flawless instrument. As for the oldest instrument I've played, that would be a ukulele from the 1940s.
Yes, if I just so happen to have or come across the exact font of lead letter press letters, I will consider it fate and do it!
Love your channel man! Always fun, often very funny, and fantastic instruments! You have great taste in cool. Australian fan!
Thanks!
Not knowing what you’re doing is why you always win
I’d like to express my appreciation for your use of the word “chode”. We just don’t use that one enough anymore.
We have to preserve our precious language!
Absolutely!
Chode carrots are the best
I don't know, i Like that ambered flamey maple, er Sycamore. It looks like the natural color of the wood and not a stain. For some reason it brings to mind Peter Green's old Les Paul, and Sounds, Magnifico! 🔥🌌
I think it would be ok to stamp the mark. A complete restore refinish possible new fret board? Then maybe thin out the top add/check bracing. Enjoyed the music video at the end. The oldest was a 1959 Les Paul. You live in an amazing place.
Yes! If I decide to pull the neck off, I’ll go full Monty on the top and bracing and decorations…and reveneer/fret the fretboard for better intonation.
The dogs face was priceless, go ahead and restamp 😊
You should do whatever your big little heart desires to make the instrument everything you want it to be. It's a great find!
Really cool guitar loved the vid. Was not expecting to hear the Log Drivers Waltz lol
Very nice work. Sounds like a Mandola. I think restamping Maker's Mark would honor the builder. Excellent B-roll!
Extremely cool :) I live just a few dozen miles from where this was made!
Nice! I think I might’ve have seen at least the name of the street it was on at some point and it was a VERY short one in York, and the buildings looked quite old, it’s possible the building is still there!
@ next time in York I’ll try and remember to look :)
Blake Street!
That is truly kewl!
@@Notaluthier Looks like it was 17-21 Blake Street, you can see it on Google Maps still :) Not sure if it's still the same building, it's a little unclear from the description, but I think it is! her.york.gov.uk/Monument/MYO1843
150 yr old mandolin - I enjoyed watching you fix this piece, peace!✌️
First of all I love your dog. Second of all I find you hilarious at times. Thirdly IMHO you should deepen the stamp of the makers Mark and strip off all the poly and French polish it with shellac
5:51 I Spotted The Wind In The Willows Singer, Ralph
"Hijos" is pronounced like "E hose". Super easy. The Y also sounds like the letter E.
Those are interesting instruments. Very cool.
Yes please restore to best possible results. Very educational experience thanks Cheers, your dog is cool😊so the cat
You should do a full restore on the instrument to get it to a playable condition because if you don't, it's just an art piece. Refinish, refret, restamp
I think I have to disagree. The playability was addressed and its now a useable instrument. The aesthetic work could certainly be redone, and I will at some point, gotta get that video out though! but it wont make it less of an art/museum piece, but rather more of one.
You're the best mate. You make consistently excellent content that is fun, interesting, and feels good for the soul.
I think if you want to restamp it you absolutely should, it does rather seem that Buggy is completely ambivalent. The nature section was great, including the butterfly, which was shot on a high-speed camera? Also, you can't put that animation in there and not even mention it! What was that?
Oh I definitely should have tagged that animation. It is the original animation to the song I was playing “the log driver’s waltz” check it out on TH-cam:
th-cam.com/video/upsZZ2s3xv8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=-QFg5XbuoW6z7GP1
The butterfly (pooping!) was just shot on slowmo mode on an iPhone 8
That's great. Kind of looks like you starred in it too!
Hahahah, yes I hadn’t seen it in years and must admit to a passing resemblance! 👯♂️
Also, animal videos at the end were on point!
You could complete the stamp with a different colour and just keep the area immediately around it in the current finish, add a fine wooden circle around it and refinish the rest.
That bridge and tailpiece are works of art! I think it's perfectly fine to re-stamp, but I don't mind this finish either
Thanks a lot!
Bro thanks so much for showing how to fix the sitar like buzz. I got an acoustic guitar for Christmas every time I played a d chord I wanted to hit my head against the wall.
Those frets look right to me.18th-century instruments would not have used equally tempered tuning. People only played in the few keys that sounded good.
I think it’s perfectly acceptable to re-stamp the maker’s name and to refinish it to something more in keeping with how it originally would have been. It’s a charming instrument and the bridge and tail piece are a superb addition!
Thanks!
It depends on the type of restoration. For a fully restored instrument sure. But he tends to do "sympathetic restorations" where you aren't erasing the history of the instrument. That's probably why he is unsure about refinishing it in a more traditional manner.
@@MisterJWJ71the thing is pretty wrecked to begin with there isn't much left to preserve
Well done!
Thanks!
I really like the simple semi-circular bridge shape. I have never been one for unnecessary ornamentation.
I just finished restoring an 1850 Parlour guitar. It is a Simpson 266 made in England.
Sounds neat!
I think a descendant of this instrument is the portuguese guitar. For me at least, it kinda resembles one. Good job with the restoration!
Still silly. So. So. So. Silly. Top of the mornin' govena! Would you like some tea and crumpets? Absolutely dashing!!
I remember that theater buttery popcorny smell from carving an ebony ring box!
Well, orange matches your dogs bed spread nicely. 1961 Melody Maker D is the oldest I have played. I guess that's not very old. Thanks again.
oldest i've played is a 2015 dean (that i know of) my first ever guitar i found at goodwill might've been older (pissed i got rid of it, should've kept it)
amazing work!! sounds beautiful!!
Thanks!
Nice job, lovely film
Memorable song as well real good vibe, cool tune
Great job, bringing it back to life! I also think, the fret spacing has to do with temperament. Since I don't like the paint job, and the Instrument has already been messed with, I'd go with refinishing!
The oldest instrument I played was a 1782 Walter pianoforte in the musical instrument museum in Vienna! That was truly humbling!
Ahhhh! I’d love to try an old pianoforte! I have a clavichord here that needs some adjustments to be playable…but it’s a reproduction!
Love the bridge design and tailpiece, I think you should restamp the marks and a refinish , of course make a video doing it 😊
I was fortunate enough to be able to play a 280-300 yo Testore cello when I was looking for mine. I was never going to buy it, and they knew that, but they were nice enough to let me play it.
Oh that’s lovely!
Great video thank you. I think it turned out great. Bridge looked good and matched the feel of the instrument well. I wouldnt feel bad about refinishing but would probably mark it internally or something for posterity. Oldest instrument I ever played was a flute excavated from Chaco canyon ca 900-1100ad. It was a couple toots but im still claiming it. I kinda have the hots for that The Russell banjo. Hit me up if its for sale .
Dang! 1000+ years old is epic!
Man that thing sounds dope. I think refinishing it to be closer to original and restamping the mark is probably OK.
I think that the black wood you made the bridge from could be GRENADIL That's what we call this wood in my country
Interesting!
@@Notaluthier This wood should have a pleasant tea scent But this is not always a necessary condition.
Seems it’s mostly commonly referred to as “African Blackwood” in the luthier community
Not sure just how old, but a dulcimer from the mid 1800's. It was originally one of my great great grandparents dulcimer, and my cousin has it and still plays it at church every week. According to family lore, it was a wedding gift to them about 10 years before the start of the Civil War. It was made by a local maker, this was in the Arkansas Ozarks.
Awesome!
Greylocke, that is truly phenomenal. Is there a chance you can film some of this performance for showing on TH-cam? I bet there would be a lot of interest, especially with the history from "down in old dark Arkansas". (That last is a quote from the song "Caledonia Mission" by The Band...)
Very good job! Super cool!
Even just a top coat of shellac might improve the texture. That way you also could leave the logo as is. If it doesn't look right then you could do a full refinish and redo the stamp. I always try to keep things authentic, but this is definitely a grey area.
The oldest guitar i played was from the 1800s. Very small and narrow. Likely pearwood back and sides and it had a sugary sort of smell. Very bowed neck. I sold it a few years ago.
Probably smart to have gotten away from the dc area especially these days. I'm in maryland unfortunately.
I was in Great Falls…went to high school in McLean. Loved the all ages music scene and free galleries in DC.
Thanks for sharing. Keep up the great work!
The Russell mean lil banjo. Verry cool finds.
What kind of dog is Buggy he looks a lot like my dog ❤️
Chiweenie!
He’s awesome.😎
when I was at school on the 70s, our music tutor (RIP Vinny Thorpe) took us to an old trad music recital and I had a strum on a similar instrument, I'd love to play that
Needs a Kayhler EMGs and a neon green refin then you'll be ready to play some Municipal Waste 😂
My buckbee says joker in the same font. Thats awesome haul
I’ve heard there are a few different renditions! Joker is rad! Any idea what the inlay material is?
@Notaluthier i have no clue. Its had some modification to it so it took me a while to realize its a buckbee. Someone shaved the headstock done and looking at the tuners in it it happened around the 50s. Thanks to banjo hangout for helping me figure what it was
Fascinating to find out about an instrument I knew nothing about. Oldest instrument I've ever played (and owned) was an English made banjo from the 1920s. It wasn't particularly great to play but in very good, all original condition so I traded it for a modern banjo.
I’m going to do a future video on an 1860s English banjo! Fretless/gut
Oldest thing I've played is my reed organ from 1906. Still works amazingly well and is way easier to work on than I'd have thought for something with ~120 tiny 120 year old brass reeds
when I bought my portable pump organ, It really drove home just how little of an organ is essential! bellows, reeds...and the rest is furniture!
Great job! Fantastic look! Never expected it to be so old! If You want to know, how it could sound with a real master playing, then listen to Pedro Chamorro!
such killer content! my spirits are lifted
🙌🙌🙌thank you!
Nice one.
Oldest instrument, Fender jazz bass that I bought in 1980-81 it was probably a '69 ish. I can remember it being the nicest playing bass I ever played. I swapped it for a Shergold double neck. That guitar I traded in for a tape loop that the band needed. We all make mistakes 🙄
Yes…I’ve been there with the bad trades
Author Author! Best video yet. IMO
😊😊😊😊😊😊 awewweee thanks!
I'd leave it alone and just enjoy it for what it is
I certainly like the amount of work involved in this option!
...last comment. Sorry. I get so many smiles and laughs from your videos. I do really appreciate the entertainment and your work. Crappy Blue Beer.
Thanks! 😂😊
I wonder if the fretboard (11:25) of the English guitar is in a historical temperament? The major third and sixth look flat, similar to just intonation (though maybe a bit too flat).
Absolutely could be! I’ll need to investigate further. Given that I didn’t even know the layout of the courses until I was halfway through the project, leaves me feeling like there’s a lot more to learn!
That was my first thought too --- seems to me that it could easily be a Werckmeister temperament or some such. If my memory serves, equal temperament was around but wasn't yet de rigueur at the time of the instrument's construction.
Great job on the bridge.
Thanks 🙏🏼
It definitely has it's own sound.
Could the white stuff on the headstock be holly? It was used on lutes a lot, in combination with ebony.
Oh good call! Could be!
You can get a snake camera for under $30 USD that attaches to your phone charging port and can go inside the guitar sound holes and check out damage, etc.
I spent way more on the depstech inspection camera and it clearly sucks!
Oldest I can saw for sure was the 59-64 eko m100. Only guessing the years because it came with a song book from 59 and 64, but the sticker inside had no date stamp unlike later ones I’d seen. It had the cardboard faux gator skin case and a kent brand strap. Which I should have kept since I have a 67 kent 820 thinline. The eko was actually thrown out in heavy garbage collection. If it had the pearloid pickguard it would have been worth at least 1k.. traded it for an epiphone les paul that plays like butter and $100 cash.
That English guitar, quite a score! 😊👍
It was an awesome day! And an honest seller, of the kind that’s harder to come by these days, who sticks to a deal even when their phone is ringing off the hook with other buyers.
The frets weren't unintentionally uneven! This instrument was never intended to be played in just any key! Even temperament was only one of many standards in the 1700s. Notice that the musical third and sixth are several cents flat to be in tune harmonically instead of the evenly spaced diatonic intervals, which means the fourth and ninth (from the nut) frets are supposed to be a certain amount closer to the nut than they would be for even temperament, which is exactly the case here!!
I should’ve known! I really appreciate the specificity of your response, thank you 🙏🏼
1:40 - Those inlays appear to be either ivory or bone. Same goes for the tuner buttons. I don't believe plastic was invented yet judging by the age of the banjo. Maybe there was bakelite during that time.
It is an 1890s banjo so “plastic” would certainly be surprising. Perhaps mastic? (Though it tends to shrink and crack over time) Or some other cast material They don’t look like natural material (ie bone/ivory)
@@Notaluthier You are probably right. I found out that mastic was indeed used as inlay material. Thanks! I did not know that interesting fact! There wasn't any info on when mastic was first used by luthiers. I had a small collection of Victorian era zithers, a 6 string lute, and a ukulele banjo. I didn't restring or play any of them, I hung them on the wall as art.
wow, that was crazy!
For the oldest was my uncle's 1950's Gibson arch top
That was cool!
As you don't even know if the stamp is original or genuine I think it's quite acceptable for you as the owner to do whatever you like. Thin the top and refret the neck, refinish. Reference steel strings . The harpsichord preceded the English guitar and had itself metal strings, usually made of iron or brass depending upon the preferred tone. As your manufacturer made harpsichords and the like he would be well aware of and familiar with metal strings. Although metal strings were available I can find no references to steel strings until the developement of the pianoforte.
I would easily bet $1000 the BARELY LEGIBLE maker stamps are original. I also don’t subscribe to the philosophy of an “owner” doing whatever they like with an instrument…most people don’t have sense enough to take good care of instruments, especially historic ones. Considering most of my job is fixing guitars that ignorant people fucked up…yeah…no…owners shouldn’t get a pass to do whatever they want if they are incompetent. They will die, and the instrument will live on.
@@Notaluthier You could bet your very last dollar but the truth is you have no documented evidence. I'm not doubting your judgement just stating a fact. Truth is that an owner can actually do what the hell he likes with an instrument he owns. Famous guitarists that personalised their instruments made them unique and very valuable. If you or I did it it wouldn't matter. You actually did modify this guitar using your own judgement as there are no actual points of reference. Finally , I commented because you asked us to do just that. If you don't like comments , don't ask for them.
Ooh spicy! I didn’t mean to come off as a dick. I just ALWAYS hear people say “it’s yours do what you want” but most people are too incompetent and misguided to do what they want. And so an awful lot of historical furniture, instruments and what have you, are irrevocably ruined. Much like the previous owner of this instrument, with the best of intentions, put a new top on it and refinished it…it was his…and he didn’t do terrible work, but now we will never know what it had been. As for my mods, the only parts I modified were removable and/or already non-original. I appreciate the discourse. Cheers
Another good one, Levon. And Buggy! Yay!
Thanks 🫶
I was really crossing my fingers hoping for a refinish- still I think that's some fantastic work you did on that pretty little guitar. I understand the thought of trying to restamp the maker's name ie, to preserve the pedigree rather than trying to pull one over on anyone. I feel like it would be less appropriate since so much of the craftsmanship and even design elements now are credited to a different craftsman, its a tricky concept Im not really sure what the right thing would be.
In due time I’ll get to it…so many of these projects I do for TH-cam end up taking 2-3 times as long as I hope and so I put it off for the time being
Damn, power grinder to shape the nut. Never had the money for that.
Huh? That disc sander? It was a shitty used one I got for $20 on craigslist
Is there a new kitten in the I'mNotALuthier household? What are Buggy's thought on sharing space with juvenile of the feline persuasion? The oldest guitar I own is a 1960 Harmony H59. I really enjoy your long-form videos, I will watch it again, and recommend it to total strangers that we may become friends.
The kitten is not living with us! Though I think buggy might be down!
The bridge came out beautiful. I like the orange finish. No idea what the oldest instrument is I've played, probably because I didn't know how old they were when I played them.
Gonna watch it again! ♥
Hahahah! It’s even better here lololol
Actually TH-cam does allow a higher bit rate, so in one way it actually is better
@@Notaluthier True say! I also wanna help get your view sup, so I've been binge watching your stuff almost daily LOL (while I work on gooters)
Heck yesss! Thanks!!!
@@Notaluthier Ay, no problem man. We gotta support one another!
11:32 I believe the fret spacing is intentional for the tuning temperament they used at the time. (Just a guess)
Let’s hope so!
It's a 1/6 comma meantone temperament @@Notaluthier
Bandurria from Spain. Probably cedar? Ibáñez and sons.
I realize how much I butchered his name. Eye-Ben-ezz…it’s probably more like EE-Ben-yeth. The “y hijos “ era is 1910-1915.
A bunch of the Celtic both Scottish Celtic and Irish Celtic folk music uses this instrument.
It’s definitely in a good tuning for that stuff!
The song at the end reminds me a lot of Dennis Wilson :)
Sweet! I was just listening to Pacific Ocean Blue this week.
@@Notaluthier I try to turn everyone on to that album!
I also like the cheesy Beach Boys records like the Light Album and Carl & The Passions
Oldest 2 I have are 1800s (Still need to be made to play again ) a "HOPF" german Violin And a 1860s Civil War era Banjo. My 1st Guitar Which I still own and Play is a 1930s FOX Theater Detroit Hawaiian Guitar academy Acoustic. Which I rescued From the trash in the 1970s and made a new x braced top for
Nice!
When I was 18, I played the skin flute of an elderly man of 94 so you have me beat.
That router work was so scary ….. It obvious you have a lot of experience using a router ( even if it’s the wrong way ) I’m really good with an angle grinder and used it in all kinds of sketchy ways till I got bit by it pretty bad . A router is a fickle mistress be careful my friend
My closest call was with a jointer 🙈
I also got bit but an angle grinder! Took 2 fingers but luckily they were able to re attach em. I thought I'd never be able to play guitar again but it's been 8 years and I'm still rockin'
I remembered, on watching this vid, seeing a Minstrel who turned up at an open stage night I played at who went by the name Dante Ferrara. He played and sang with both a Hurdy Gurdy and a Cittern and was very entertaining. Just checked and he has some vids on YT under that name you may like to check out. It must have been longer ago than I remember as he looks quite a bit older than he was. I will admit to finding it hard to believe the age of the instrument; it looks too clean, even having been re finished.
Yes, in the initial craigslist pictures this is part of the reason I didn’t jump on everything right off the bat was how “new” this and the Bandurria looked. Little did I know!
The oldest instrument I have played is the organ in the church (not abbey) of Amorbach, Germany. Apparently Bach played it.
Wowowowow! Quite the provenance! Apparently Leon Russel played my CP-80…pretty much the same 😂😂😂
Sitting at home w an ill six yo, a little stoned, perfect video 🤌🏻✌️
Protect original area with 3M(?) transparency that you may see & safely lift off & replace in need of verifications. But, add your designed + inclusive with copy of 'Original' ...( oval or rectangular brass/silver ) ...Then inset (( THAT )) at a prefered & safe backside spot of body' outside...Plus: include your' refurbish date, maybe, also. It may even serve as a backside extra strengthening & locking of the existing 2 veneers ...Maybe? LOVE!
A shame but probably I imagine the softwood top was destroyed beyond any salvation, the refinish was excesive thats for sure
I’d rather have cobbled together a Frankenstein of an original top! But alas!
Maybe I missed it. How is it tuned? 5ths?
CEGCEG
You could see that router eff-up coming from a mile away.
It was not intelligent
High quality pictures taken under various lighting conditions may add authority to the maker's mark. If you have a university nearby with any similar programs, they might be able to assist with that. Once you have provinence you can go ahead with restoring the finish without worrying about it. An alternative is to restore everything except those marks.
I'm unsure about how you'd deal with the top. A part of me says it should be kept as is, though maybe removed and made thinner.
I have some old stuff but I don't think I have anything that I can absolutely prove is older than that. So, good score! I have a guitar made in Portugal that's very old but I have no way to say when it was made with any certainty. I'd have to find one of those people that does such things. Dendrologist might be the name of 'em?
It’s seems exceedingly unlikely that someone would forge such a thing! But I shall see if the museum/university has any resources nonetheless. Having high quality images of the makers marks on file would be a good idea. Even better would be to find another example of a Haxby Guittar for comparison! Then I can make a more faithful soundboard if necessary.
@@Notaluthier Yeah, there's not a huge market for that guitar. I'm looking forward to see how you decide to go forward. A part of me would say that the top is now a part of its history. Maybe you'll find more information when you open it up?